Controlling mechanism



F. E. SINCLAIR CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed July 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet1 March 2, 1943.

March 2, 1943. E, SINCLAIR CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed July 25, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 CONTROLLING MECHANISM Frank E.Sinclair, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, acorporation of Massachusetts Application July 23, 1940, Serial No.346,938

11 Claims.

My invention relates to controlling mechanism, and more particularly toimproved feed controlling mechanism for pneumatically fed devices suchas so-called air-feed drifters.

In the operation of air-feed drifters, which are hammer motors fed alongsuitable guiding and supporting means by air motors, which ordinarily,though not necessarily, rotate the feed screw element of a feed screwand nut to effect feed and retraction of the hammer motor, it isdesirable to have the rate of forward feedbasically, the feedingpressurecontro1lable with considerable nicety, but at the same time tobe able to drive the feeding motor at willat full speed in eitherdirection substantially instantly. It is also desirable to be able toresume a pre-selected controlled rate of air supply to the feeding motorat will at any time simply by moving the feed control lever into aselected position. Accordingly, an arrangement in which a main valve ismovable into opposite extreme positions to effect full forward feed inone position and full speed retraction in the other such position, andis movable into an intermediate position to effect a predeterminedreduced rate of motive fluid supply to the motor to effect forward feed,is highly desirable; and it is further desirable to be able to regulatethe reduced rate of air supply at will at any time. In a preferredembodiment of my invention, therefore, there may be incorporated a mainreversing valve having three predetermined positions, respectively, onefor full forward feed, one for full speed retraction, and anintermediate one for reduced forward feed; and with said main valvethere may be desirably associated an auxiliary valve adjustable relativeto the main valve to vary the rate of feeding pressure supply throughthe latter when the main valve is in the intermediate position, buthaving no effect upon the rate of fluid supply when the main valve is ineither of its extreme positions. Desirably, the auxiliary valve may bearranged within the main valve and may be adjustable relative to thelatter not only'to regulate the rate of fluid supply by throttling butalso by a concurrent partial venting of the fluid before it reaches thefeed operating motor. Desirably, both valves may be of the rotatabletype and a coaxial arrangement of the valves will be, under suchcircumstances, of advantage. preciated, however, that the severalarrangements outlined, while preferred, are not requisite, and that theinvention is capable of wide'variation within the scope of the appendedclaims.

It is an object of my invention to provide an It will be apimprovedpressure controlling mechanism. It is another object of my invention toprovide an improved controlling mechanism for a pneumatic feedingmechanism. It is a further object of my ing rate which may be resortedto at any time,.

together with higher speed forward and reverse feed rates each of whichmay be instantly adopted. Still another object of any-invention is toprovide an improved mechanism of the character described having improvedmeans for adjusting the sub-maximum feed rate. Yet afurther object ofmyinvention is to provide an improved feed controlling-mechanismincluding concurrently movable reverse and feed rate controlling valves,the second adjustable relative to the first to vary the feeding rateand; the first movable to supply motive fluid either underthe control ofthe second or independentlythereof at a higher rate. Another objectof.'my invention is to provide an improved pneumatic feedcontrollingmechanism including a valve movable to effect feed in" eitherof opposite directions and having a plurality of fluid supply passagesselectively effective to provide feed in one direction, with means forcontrolling the rate of supply through one; but not the other, of saidpassages. Other' Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on theplanes of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through a controllingvalve mechanism, on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a main feed reversing valve, withits operating handle removed.

Fig. '7 is an elevational View of a feed rate controlling valve, withits operating handle removed.

Figs. 8, 9, l0, l1 and 12 are enlarged sectional views of thecontrolling valve mechanism, and

are taken respectively on the transverse planes of the section linesB-3, 9-9, |9|9, I I--|| and |2|2 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that a hammer motor,generally designated l, adapted percussively to actuate a drill steel 2,is slidably guided in a shell 3 having a trunnion support 4. The hammermotor car ries a feed nut, a portion of which is-shown at 5 in Fig. 1,and this feed nut is threa-dedly interengaged with a feed screw 6 whichextendslongitudinally of the shell 3 and isrotatably supported therebyin a well known manner. The feed screw 6 may be rotated by any suitablepressure fluid operated motor, and herein for that purpose I have shownin elevation a four-cylinder. reversible air motor, generallydesignated. I, having cylinders. 8,1 8', 8f, 8"'.- The details of thismotor need. not be gone into herein as they per se form no part of mypresent invention, and it will suffice to say'that-themotor 1 isareversibl-e motor,.a portion of the exhaust from which, irrespective ofthe direction of rotation, is dis.- charged vback through the passagetowhich motive fluid-is supplied. when the motor isoperating in theopposite direction. It should be said at this point that in its broaderphases my in,- vention is not limited to the provision of exhaustfacilities in the control mechanism, but that in the embodiment shownfor purposes of'il'lustration' this feature is incorporated.

The motor I; has leading to it two' passages II and 12. Supply of'fiuid' through the passage I I- (attended in this case by concurrentexhausting of fluid through the passage I2) will efieot forwardfeed ofthe hammer motor I. Supply of fluid through the passage l2 (attendedinthis case by exhaust-of fluid through the-passage will effect retractionof the hammer motor The passages H and I2 are formed-in a valve casingl3, herein supported on the-body of. the feed operating motor L Thevalve casing I3 is provided with a cylindrical bore- I4, herein.ofuniform diameter throughout itsil'en'gth, and the bore is closed atone end by'a. head IE to. which.

a suitable supply connection lfiifor'operatin-gfluid. is attached, as.by a coupling ill The. opposite end of the casing has an, openingtfi'therethrough through. which the stem 2.9 of a reversing and.

feed. controlling valve 2 liextends. The feed controlling. valve 2| has,at the outer end of. itsstem, a fixture 22 supporting an operating:handle 23:.

The feed controlling valve 2 I ishollow throughout its length and. atits end nearer the supply connection l6 has a bore 25 formed therein.which opens through. the right-hand end (in-Fig. 3.) of the valve. Thebore 25 communicates. with. a slightly smaller bore 29, and. to-the'left (in Fig; 3) of the bore 26 is a still smaller bore 211. whichextends completely through the valve. member 2| and its stem 2.9. Withinthe bore Zfi'there is mounted a valveelement 29. which has an elongatedoperating portion 391extending throu h the bore 27, andv fixed ontheouter end of th portion 30, is a. handle: 3|; by; means; of which thevalve 29 can be rotated. The handle 3| carries a pin 32 which ismovable;in an arouateopening 33 formed in: the outer; end; of the valve stem29-, the purpose of this pinand slot connection being to limit themovement of the valve 29 relative to the valve 2|.

In the valve 2|, in the same transverse plane with'the passage I 2, is aradial port 35 communicating with the bore 25 and adapted to supplyfluid, in the proper position of the valve 2!, to the passage l2. Thevalve 2| is also provided with a longitudinally extending groove 37 inits periphery, and this groove is connected by passages 38 and 39 withthe bore 28. The position of the groove 31 is such that its right-handend in Fig. 3 is communicable, in the shown position of the valve 2|,with the passage The valve 2|. also has a radial passage 49 therein, inthe same transverse planes with the passage H, the passage 40 being offst arcuately of the valve 2|. from the groove31. The valve 29 has a bore42' therein opening into communication with the bore 25. The valve 29has a radially extending passage -43 connecting the bore 42 with aluneshaped peripheral groove 44. The valve 29 also has anotherlune-shaped groove in its periphery at 45, the latter in the sametransverse planes with the radial port 39 in the valve 2|. The valve 2|has another radial passage 46 therein, the radial passage 46 openinginto an exhaustgroove 41 which. extends longitudinally of the valve 2|and communicates at itsv left-hand end in Fig. 3 with a. peripherallyextending. exhaust'groove. 48, of more than 180 extent, as shown. inFig. 8.. In the transverse planes of the exhaust groove 48 there are.provided exhaust passages 49 opening through the Wall of the valvecasing i3, The. groove 41' extends to theright in Fig. 3toa pointopposite passage I2, and. formed in the valve 2| is a peripherallyextending groove. 59,. opening at one end. into the groove ll.Approximately op-.

posite the, exhaust groove 6?. i anotherlongitudinally extending exhaustgroove 5| which eX-. tends to the left in Fig. 3.substantia1ly,the samedistance as, the left-hand end of the peripheral.

.groove 48, and to the right in Fig. 3 extends. to a point opposite theend of the passage M. It

may be observed with respect to. the lune-shaped grooves 44 and 4.5 thatthese are so related. to eachother and to the ports with which they. arecommunicable that the groove. Mgmay be, infull.

communicationwith the passage 3 8, whilethere is no communication.between thegroove {dand the passage 45;. but that by rotation. of,thevalve 29 clockwise from the position initially described to theposition shown in Figs. 9 and 10 there may be a concurrent connection ofthe groove l; with the passage 38 and of. the groove. 45- with. thepassages 39 and 46 at the sametime. Itwillbe. noted that on stillfurther rotation in, a clockwise direction the. communication of thegroove 44 with. the passage 38 may be diminishedorentirely discontinued,if. desired, without-interrupting the communication; between the port391andthe. port 419. Since. the. port 38 receives fluid from the groove.Mthrough the port 43 and bore 42. and. since the port 39maybe connectedthrough the groove 45: tothe port 46, the exhaust-grooves- 41 and 48-and the exhaustports 49, with theatmosphere, itwill be evident that thenet quantity of fluid deliverable from the-groove 3-1] with which theports, 38 and 39 both comn'iunicate;- may be closely controlled and beanything from. the maxi mum flow capacity. of theport 4.3 down .to-zero.

A spring locking plunger 52 reciprocable; in a I bore 53 in. the casingi3 is adapted to cooperate with either of two recesses 54. and 55in=thevalvestem 20. The. fixture 22. has a projecting boss thereon, asindicated in Fig. 4 at 59 said: boss having oppositely facing surfacefilwand 58-, "The; surfaces 51 and 58: respectively coact, in theopfposite extreme positions of the lever 23, with surfaces 59 and 60 on thevalve casing I3. When the surface 51 engages the surface 59 the port 40will be in full communication with the passage II and the groove will bein communication with the passage I2. When the handle 23 is movedclockwise in Fig. 4 far enough to bring the notch 54 opposite theplunger 52, the groove 31 will be opposite the passage II and the groove50 will still b opposite passage I2. Further clockwise movement of thehandle 23 bringing the notch 55 opposite the plunger 52 will bring theblank surface BI on the periphery of the valve 2| opposite the passagesII and I2. Still further clockwise movement of the handle 23 in Fig. 4will bring the surface 58 against the shoulder 60, and in this positionof the valve 2| the port 35 will be opposite the passage I2. When theport 35 is opposite the passage I2, the passage II will be connected bythe longitudinal groove 5| with the exhaust ports 49. When the groove 31is in communication with the passage I I, the passage I2 will beconnected by the groove 50 with the groove 41 and through the groove 48with the exhaust 49. When the port 40 is in communication with thepassage II, the groove 50 and grooves 41 and 48 will connect the passageI2 with the exhaust 49.

The mode of operation of the apparatus described will be clearlyapparent from What has been said. The operation may be summarized oncemore, however, to provide a complete description of the operation at oneplace. Rotation of the handle 3| relative to the handle 23 will turn thevalve 29 within the valve 2| and posi-' tion the lune-shaped grooves 44and 45 in such a manner that the desired net quantity of fluid may bedelivered from the groove 31 to effect the reduced or controlled rate offorward feed desired. Turning the valve 29 clockwise in Figs. 9 and willreduce the rate of feed; turning it counterclockwise will increase therate of feed.

Now starting with the valve 2| in a position with the plunger 52 engagedin the recess 55, it will be observed that the passages II and I2 willboth be blanked off by the periphery of the valve 2|. If the drill motorI is at the back end of the guide shell 3 and it is necessary to feedthe motor I forward some little distance to bring the steel 2 intooperative relation to the work, the handle 23 will be throwncounterclockwise to bring the surface 5'! against the shoulder 59. Thiswill bring port 49 into communication with the passage II andconcurrently will establish communication of the passage I2 through thegrooves 50, 41 and 48 with the exhaust passages 49, and full speedforward feed will take place. When the steel approaches the work, theoperator may move the handle 23 clockwise to bring th notch 54 oppositethe plunger 52, and this will locate the slot 31 opposite the port IIwhile maintaining communication of the passage I2 through the grooves50, 41 and 48 with the exhaust 49. The rate of motive fluid supply tothe feed motor I will then be dependent upon the position of the valve29 relative to the valve 2|, and may be adjusted at will simply byrotating the valve 29 through the handle 3|. When the operator desiresto effect reverse feed he will move the handle 23 clockwise to theextreme position permitted, and that will bring the port 35 opposite thepassage I2 and supply fluid to effect reverse feed, and the passage IIwill then be connected through the slot 5| and passages 49 to exhaust.Obviously, the operator can momentarily hold the valve 2| in variousintermediate positions and at will determine the quantities of fluidwhich can flow through the passage 35 or the passage 40.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have providedan improved control mechanism having improved, simple and positivearrangements for permitting full speed feed in either direction andshutting down the feeding motor entirely, or a forward feed at a ratewhich may be varied at the will of the operator by the adjustment of thevalve 29 relative to the valve 2 I. The parts are compactly arranged,and complicated passage arrangements are avoided, and any desired modeof operation of the feeding motor within the capacity of the latter canbe' obtained.

'While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration only andthat the invention may be modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a pair of portsopening into said casing, means including an adjustable valve operativein one position for connecting said ports respectively to pressure fluidsupply and exhaust and operative in another position for reversing theconnections to said ports, and means for regulating the amount ofpressure fluid flowing to one of said ports when said valve is in one ofits positions including means for establishing a communication andadjustably controlling the communication of said latter port withexhaust.

2. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a pair of portsopening into said valve casing, means including an adjustable valveoperative in one limiting position for connecting said portsrespectively to pressure fluid supply and to exhaust and operative in anopposite limiting position for reversing the connections to said ports,said valve being movable to an intermediate position for supplyingpressure fluid to one of said ports, and valve means ad justablerelative to said valve for varying at will the flow of pressure fluidpast said valve to the latter one of said ports when said valve is insaid intermediate position.

3. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a pair of portsopening into said valve casing, means including an adjustable valveoperative in one position for connecting said ports respectively topressure fluid supply and to exhaust and operative in another positionfor reversing the connections to said ports, said valve being operativein still another position for effecting a fluid supply to one of saidports, and adjustable valve means for controlling the supply of fluid tothe last mentioned one of said ports when said valve is in its lastmentioned position.

4. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, ports openinginto said valve casing, means including an adjustable valve forcontrolling the connection of said ports to supply and exhaust, andmeans operative in one position of said adjustable valve for connectingone of said ports simultaneously to fluid supply and exhaust.

5. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a

valve casing, ports opening into, said valve casing, means includingan-adjustable valve -for controlling the connection of said ports tosupply and exhaust, and means including valve means operative in oneposition of said adjustable valve for connecting one of said, ports tofluid supply and'exhaust, said valve means being-operativeforcontrolling simultaneously the supply and exhaust connections to saidlatter port.

6. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a pair of portsopening into said valve casing, and means for selectively supplyingfluid to one of said ports and exhausting fluid from the other includinga valve having spaced supply passages'one for coaction with one of saidports and the other for coaction with the other of said ports, and alsoexhaust means for 'exhausting fluid from said ports one at a time, saidvalve having afurther supply passage for supplying fluid to one of saidports.

7. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a pair of portsopening into said valve casing, and means for selectively supplyingfluid to one of said ports and exhausting fluid from the other includinga valve having spaced supply passages one for coaction With-one of saidports and the other for coaction With the other of said ports, and alsoexhaust means for exhausting fluid from said ports one at a time, saidvalve having a further supply passage for supplying fluid to one of saidports, and said valve having Within the the same another valvecontrolling the supply of fluid to said further supply passage.

valve having coaxial therewith and rotatable relative to the sameanother valve controlling the supply of fluid to said further supplypassage.

9; In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a pair of portsopening into'said valve casing, and'means for selectively supplyingfluid to one of said ports and exhausting fluid from the other includinga valve having spaced supply passages one for coaction with one of saidports and the other for coaction with the other of said ports, and alsoexhaust means for exhausting fluid from said ports one at a time, saidvalve having a further supplypassage for supplying fluid to one of saidports, and said valve having within the same another valve concurrentlycontrolling the supply and venting of fluid to regulate the pressuredelivered to said further supply passage. I

10, In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a plurality ofports opening into said valve casing, and means for selectivelysupplying and exhausting fluid relative to said ports including a valvehaving spaced supply passages one for coaction with one of said portsand another for coaction with another of said ports, and also exhaustmeans for exhausting fluid from said ports one at a'time, said valvehaving a further supply passage for supplying fluid to one of saidports, and means for controlling the fluid pressure delivered to thelast mentioned one of said ports from said further supply passageincluding an adjustable valve controlling the communication of said portwith exhaust.

11. In a valve mechanism, in combination, a valve casing, a port openinginto said valve casing, and means including valve means for connectingsaid port simultaneously to pressure fluid supply and to exhaust, saidvalve means controlling simultaneously the supply and exhaustconnections to said port and operative to effect a change in the flow ofpressure fluid to exhaust in inverse proportion to the change in theflow of pressure 'fluid from said supply.

E. SINCLAIR.

